Kouunji Kyakuden Gbọngàn Ìgbàwọlé Tẹmpili by Hiroaki Iwasa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ìkọ́lé, Ilé àti Ètò Competition Category.
IdẹÌkọ́lé· 2025
Kouunji Kyakuden Gbọngàn Ìgbàwọlé Tẹmpili
Client: Hiroaki Iwasa Architects Workshop
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ìkọ́lé Category
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The Design
About Kouunji Kyakuden Gbọngàn Ìgbàwọlé Tẹmpili
Iṣẹ́ àkànṣe yìí jẹ́ àtúnkọ́ gbọngàn ìgbàwọlé tó ti pé ọdún 140, tí ó jẹ́ ọ̀kan lára àwọn ilé tẹmpili Buddhist Kouunji. Àwọn ará agbègbè ti fẹ́ràn gbọngàn ìgbàwọlé àtijọ́ náà fún ìgbà pípẹ́; ṣùgbọ́n, nítorí bí ó ṣe bàjẹ́ gidigidi ní ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọdún, ó ṣe dandan kí a tún un kọ́. Aṣàwòrán ilé náà yanjú àwọn ìṣòro wọ̀nyí nípa ṣíṣe ìmúdójúìwọ̀n àti ìṣọ̀kan, ó sì tún ṣètò àwọn ètò láti fi ìrántí àwùjọ agbègbè lélẹ̀ fún ìran tó ń bọ̀. Nítorí èyí, gbọngàn ìgbàwọlé tuntun náà kò ṣàṣeyọrí ìmọ̀lára ìrántí àtẹ̀yìnwá nìkan, ó sì tún ní ipò pàtàkì nínú ìtàn.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Kouunji Kyakuden Gbọngàn Ìgbàwọlé Tẹmpili jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Kouunji Kyakuden Gbọngàn Ìgbàwọlé Tẹmpili yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Kouunji Kyakuden Gbọngàn Ìgbàwọlé Tẹmpili ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This project was the reconstruction of the reception hall of a Buddhist temple passed 140 years. The old reception hall had been loved by the local community for long time, but it was beyond the scope of repair. Therefore architect took on various creative challenges. He aimed to solve these issues by updating it to modern functions, harmonizing it with other facilities, and devising some mechanisms to pass on the memory of local society to the next generation. As a result, this architecture was able to achieve not a sense of nostalgia but also a presence for the future.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Specification,
Scale/ Wooden two-story building,
Structure/ Timber frame structure,
Site Area/ 3039.15 Square meter,
Building Area/ 277.26 Square meter,
Total Floor Area/ 323.77 Square meter, - Tags
- temple, reception hall, reused, minimal philosophy, local landscape, passing on the memories, historical context, local community
- Production Technology
- This project had a clear floor plan with each function directly connected around the entrance hall, but there were many difficult construction tasks in some places. Ground reinforcement and strong foundation construction for soft ground, woodwork including special joints to structurally reuse old materials, fabrication of delicate and movable cedar lattices, and the revival of forgotten traditional natural paints "Kumezo". This project was realized through thoughtful design and exceptional craftsmanship.
- Design Challenge
- Various choices and challenges were made to pass on the memory of the local community. By choosing a common wooden house construction method rather than the traditional temple construction method, they were able to shorten the construction period, reduce construction costs, and as the result have time to repair and reuse old materials. The exterior has a roof shape unique to the region, and the walls and window lattices are finished with local cedar wood and with a revived traditional natural paint "Kumezo". As a result, this architecture achieved a special harmony and presence.
- Research
- Type of Research: About the relationship between Kouunji and the local area.
Methodology: History, landscape and topography research, annual event research, monk behavior research, and interviews with local residents,
Conclusion: Kouunji is the core of the local community that people have visited since childhood for events and daily life. The architect concluded that in addition to modernizing the function of the ceremony hall and harmonizing it with other facilities, it was essential to create a mechanism to pass on the memory of the local community to the next generation. - Inspiration
- Researching the old reception hall and the landscape and history of the area provided architect with important inspiration. In particular, the old reception hall was tilted due to the soft ground, but it was discovered that some of the main structures, such as beams and columns, were valuable materials that are currently unavailable, and could be reused if repaired. And new architecture was important not only for its shape in the landscape, but also for its presence within the historical context.
- Project Duration
- The project started in February 2002 and was completed in November 2004 in Tsukubamirai City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
- Operation Flow
- Kouunji is an essential presence for the region.
Because the parishioners of Kouunji are local residents and their relatives, and annual events and celebrations and condolences are mainly held for the parishioners. The reception hall, located to the side of the main hall, functions in conjunction with the main hall during events, and is used for religious ceremonies, waiting areas, dinners using the kitchen function, and a meeting place. It also functions as an emergency temporary evacuation center in the event of a disaster. There is also a temple office that oversees them. - Image Credits
- Photographer Kozo Takayama
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